Armas Järnefelt

Finnish-born composer and conductor Edvard Armas Järnefelt was born into an important family in Vyborg (then in Finland) on 14 August 1869. He studied with Busoni in Helsinki and with Massenet in Paris. His sister Aino married Sibelius.

As a composer he's mainly known for the popular Præludium (1900) and the orchestral version of the Berceuse for violin and piano of 1904, but his output includes at least a hundred and twenty works, plus music for films and the stage.

Armas Järnefelt spent much of his career in Sweden, taking Swedish citizenship and working at the Royal Swedish Opera as repetiteur, conductor and then chief conductor.  He died in Stockholm on 23 June 1958, aged eighty-eight.

 

A selection of articles about Armas Järnefelt

Spotlight. Absolutely Stunning - Geoff Pearce listens to Lea Birringer's Sibelius, Szymanowski and Järnefelt. '... beautifully played.'

Spotlight. Absolute Brilliance - Gerald Fenech recommends Warner Classics' forty-two disc set of recordings by Paavo Berglund. '... a precious treasure-trove packed with musical diamonds that took twenty-seven years to complete.'

CD Spotlight. Awesome Power - Orchestral music from Finland, strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... energetic performances that consistently engage the listener ...'